On June 5, A/G attended Drought LA: What It Will Take to Save the Drop, an Engage LA series event hosted at the Mayor’s residence. The Getty House set the tone for the event with new drought-tolerant landscaping in the parkway and front yard and dry fountain out back. Though the house still features some stretches of turf grass, posters displayed around the yard indicated that they are soon to be torn out in favor of citrus tress, herb gardens, and native vegetation.
At the event, Mayor Garcetti unveiled a new bilingual Save the Drop video promotion to raise awareness for water conservation by comparing every drop of water that we use to a friend that travels hundreds of miles just to help us wash our dishes or water our lawn each day. “The Drop” has already appeared on bus stops and posters all over the city and, the mayor said, is recognized by many Angelinos, even schoolchildren, as a water conservation mascot.
Garcetti was joined by Moby, who spoke to the crowd about “drought-shaming” in lawn-heaving neighborhoods and lifestyle choices such as eating less meat that can help conserve water. The event concluded with a panel style discussion with Garcetti and his Chief Sustainability Officer Matt Peterson, Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board Felicia Marcus, and Executive Director of Urban Semillas Miguel Luna. The panel highlighted many of Los Angeles’s successes in the quest for water conservation, including the its steady progress towards meeting and exceeding incremental reduction goals, as well as upcoming challenges such as the rehabilitation of the San Fernando Valley aquifer. Marcus emphasized Los Angeles’s role as a leader in California that is paving the way for successful water conservation strategies, and Luna stressed the importance of involving Los Angeles’s diverse community groups and organizations, calling for “many messages from many messengers.”
The Save the Drop campaign is not just talk – the City is offering resources and incentives for all Angelinos to do their part. Programs include turf trade-in rebates, free low-flow showerheads and aerators, and incentives for smart irrigation controllers. To learn more about Save the Drop or find out ways you can get involved, visit http://www.lamayor.org/savethedropla.